Will voters ever get to see what those guys were scribbling so furiously on their
\nnotepads? Our guess is Mr. Sourpuss was doodling his Republican mantra, “significant
\nprogress,” and reminding himself not to curl his lip or spit too much venom. <\/P>
\n
Although he was aiming for gravitas<\/I> (that much overused word), he managed instead Our guess is Mr. Smiley was doodling his Democratic counter-mantra, “four more years of In fact, he succeeded in not being just a pretty boy. He <\/P> What was Mr. Sourpuss’s comeback? <\/P> <\/P> For me that pretty much settled the issue of who won the debate. Others apparently agreed. Those are not scientific polls. But CBS News polled<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> a nationally
\nto throw a “modulated tantrum,” Tom Shales writes<\/FONT><\/B><\/A>, in a debate
\nthat “was like a tea party for pitbulls.” <\/P>
\n
\nthe same,” and notes to himself not to smile too much, which he succeeded in doing, as though
\nthat might prove he had the kind of gravitas<\/I> (much overused word) to qualify him for the
\nsecond-highest office in the land without resorting to a dyspeptic demeanor or snide remarks.
\n<\/P>
\n
\nand kept the pressure on right from the start: “Mr. Vice President, you are still not being straight
\nwith the American people,” he said, then rounded on him:
\n
\nI mean the reality you and George Bush continue to tell people, first, that
\nthings are going well in Iraq. [WHAM!] The American people don’t need us to explain this
\nto them. [BAM!] They see it on their television every single day. [THANK YOU,
\nMA’AM!]<\/BLOCKQUOTE>
\n
\n
\n
\nWe’ve made significant progress in Iraq. [LAME!] We’ve stood up a new
\ngovernment … But the point of success in Iraq will be reached when we have turned governance
\nover to the Iraqi people, they’ve been able to establish a democratic government. They’re well on
\ntheir way to doing that. [LAME AGAIN!] They’ll have free elections next January for the first
\ntime in history. [WHO’S HE KIDDING?]<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> We
\nalso are actively, rapidly training Iraqis to take on the security responsibility. [THAT’S
\nWHY INTERIM PRIME MINISTER ALLAWI SAID YESTERDAY THAT IRAQ’S POLICE
\nFORCE CAN’T QUELL THE
\nINSURGENCY<\/FONT><\/B><\/A>.] Those two steps are crucial to success in Iraq. They’re
\nwell in hand, well under way. [TRIPLY LAME.] And I’m confident that in fact we’ll get the job
\ndone. [IF HE SAYS SO.]<\/BLOCKQUOTE>
\n
\n
\n
\nmillion users of their site replied to the question of who won, and that 63% said John
\nEdwards, compared with 37% who said Dick Cheney. CNN.com reported<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> that
\n252,963 of theirs graded Edwards B+ for content and B+ for delivery, compared with Cheney’s
\ngrades of B- for content and B- for delivery. <\/P>
\n
\nrepresentative sample of 178 debate watchers who described themselves as “uncommitted voters”
\nand found that 41% said Edwards won, compared to 28% who said Cheney won. The rest, 31%,
\nsaid it was a tie.<\/P>
\n